let’s count it all joy

welcome!

Welcome to April!

A “right courage” is a courage that is rightly placed in our Heavenly Father, not in ourselves. It’s the kind of courage that takes a step forward, trusting not in ourselves, but in the Creator of the universe. It is the courage we have because we know who God is, and we have faith in Him.

Let’s take this month to look more closely at what it means to live in this kind of courage.

I recently completed a study on the book of Joshua. What a testimony to God’s power and His loving, victory-filled plan for His people! I love how God so plainly instructs Joshua to be strong and courageous because He will never leave or forsake him. (Joshua 1:5-6) Even more, I love the way God continually goes before Joshua and the Israelites. He leads them and claims victory after victory for their sake, fulfilling His covenant promise to Abraham in giving them the promised land. And, I love that Joshua built altars along the way to remember and remind the Israelites of God’s faithfulness.

I hope you give this theme of “right courage” some time. Dig into the scriptures to see God’s always-loving power at work in the lives of His people. Look back at your journey to see where God has gone ahead of you and made a way for you to step forward with confidence and courage. Have you built any “altars” to remind you of His faithfulness in your own life?

I hope your time in His Word (supported by the contents of your mailer), will encourage you to move through every day and every stage in confidence. I hope His power and strength will prompt you to live courageously in Him.

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Your mailer includes ten little bits of goodness that I hope will bring your faith and your joy in Jesus to mind whenever you see or use them. More than anything, I would love for you to USE the goods from this mailer - to weave them into your projects and your personal devotions, to add color to your spaces, or to gift them to others and in so doing pass on Jesus’ love.

on this special “subscribers only” page, you will find:

• A video showing the ways I’ve used the products in this month’s mailer.

• Some additional quotes on living courageously as God’s children.

• A verse and scripture-section list.

• Images showcasing the ways I used the products.

• Journaling prompts.

• A prayer.

• Links to all supporting supplies that I used (sketchbooks, frames, art supplies, etc.). Please note that many, but not all of the supply links are affiliate links. And if I missed anything that you are curious about, don’t hesitate to reach out and ask.

PROJECT VIDEO

VERSES ON COURAGE

Deuteronomy 31:8 (Do not be dis-couraged)

Joshua 1:6-11 (The entire book of Joshua is a study in right courage!)

Ephesians 6:10-18 (The armor of God.)

Psalm 27:1

Isaiah 43:2-3

Psalm 56:3-4 (What can man do to me? A lot! But God is always there.)

Isaiah 41:10-13

Mark 5:36

2 Corinthians 4:8-12

Psalm 112:7-8

quotes on COURAGE

Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point. Courage is the willingness to hold to all of the other virtues – love, mercy, honesty, faithfulness – even when there is danger or personal risk. -C.S. Lewis

Courage is confidence in God’s ability even in the face of uncertainty about our own abilities or circucmstances. - Louie Giglio

God works in our hearts, daily, to prepare us for all the things to come.

The remedy for discouragement is the Word of God. When you feed your heart and mind with its truth, you regain your perspective and find renewed strength. - Warren Wiersbe

Even if you're on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there. - Mother Teresa

Nothing but encouragement can come to us as we dwell upon the faithful dealing of our Heavenly Father in centuries gone by. Faith in God has not saved people from hardships and trials, but it has enabled them to bear tribulations courageously and to emerge victoriously. - Lee Roberson

Believers, look up - take courage. The angels are nearer than you think - Billy Graham

Hope has two beautiful daughters. Their names are anger and courage; anger at the way things are, and courage to see that they do not remain the way they are. -attributed to Augustine

Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are often stiffened. Billy Graham

I often laugh at Satan, and there is nothing that makes him so angry as when I attack him to his face, and tell him that through God I am more than a match for him. Martin Luther

journaling prompts

I process my thoughts (and pray!) through writing. Perhaps you do too. If this is something you haven’t tried before, I would encourage you to give it a go. Sometimes, a little prompt is all it takes to get started.

1. Write about a time when you’ve moved forward with courage, knowing God was with you.

2. Something beautiful you saw today.

3. Write a prayer of surrender to God.

4. Explore the connection between trusting God and doing something that feels “scary.”

5. Reflect on something about God’s character that is hard for you to believe, accept, grasp, or trust. What questions or doubts arise?

6. How does your faith translate to courageous living in your day-to-day life?

7. Copy your favorite “courage” quote from above and write a related prayer.

8. If you are struggling through something, how do you think God wants you to respond?

9. Write about where you have seen God at work in your life, recently.

10. Describe a time when God rescued you.

SUPPLIES I USED alongside THIS MONTH’S MAILER CONTENTS

Journals:

EMSHOI dotted journal (my commonplace book journal)

“Grateful” journal that I use for documenting my Friday nature time.

Other ephemera used in my journal - from my current 100 Day Project (100 Days of Joyful Printables!) and some from Brandi Kincaid.

Art Journaling Supplies:

Here is a list of my favorite and most-often used art journaling supplies.

Frames:

Wallniture Alps 5x7 Picture Frame

Other frames I have used and would recommend can be found on my Amazon shop framing page.

Family scrapbooking:

12x12 “We R Memory Keepers” album

Design F Project Life pocket pages by Becky Higgins

If there’s something I missed, don’t hesitate to ask!